ROMULUS (WWJ) – As Hurricane Ian bears down on Florida, many travelers from across the country have been scrambling to find a way out before the Category 3 storm slams into the western shores of Florida.
The hurricane, which some forecasters believe could strengthen to a Category 4 storm before making landfall, caused local authorities to issue mandatory evacuations, which left some Metro Detroiters in search of new travel plans.
WWJ's Ryan Marshall went to Detroit Metro Airport Tuesday afternoon, where multiple jam-packed flights arrived at DTW from Tampa, Ft. Meyers and Orlando. He spoke to several people who had to cut their vacations short, just to get home safely.
That includes Kevin and Jackie Eaton from West Bloomfield, who said they "got lucky" by moving their flight up from 6 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. The early switch saved them from what could have been a nightmare.
"We would not have gotten out at 6:00. The airport was closing at 5, so the 6:00 flight was already canceled," Kevin Eaton said.
Patti Meeder, also from West Bloomfield, said she and her husband own a condo in the Tampa area, just feet from the water.
"We didn't have to board up windows because we're required to have hurricane shutters, so you put those down. They evacuated; everyone had to be out by noon today," Meeder said.
She said she was one of the lucky ones to be able to rebook flights. Many people on the other side simply weren't able to do so.
Bob and Cindy Mauer of Temperance said they were also lucky, as well as impressed by their airline.
"Delta was very helpful in getting us a new seat assignment on the plane," Mauer said. "They did really, really well. We were waiting to see once we knew what the track was and once the track was definitely gonna hit Tampa, we left."
Some travelers have also been forced to cancel trips to Florida due to the hurricane, which is expected to pack winds of up to 120 mph. Tuesday was expected to be the last chance people in Florida had to get out before it hits.
